Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Sark Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Sark

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $654 in Sark.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $2,054 in Sark.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $3,455 in Sark.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 250% more expensive than in Sark, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Sark is 51% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.19 €14.18

$19.25 GGP 14.32

-15.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.3 €55.5

$81.8 GGP 60.9

-22.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.32 €9.04

Cappuccino

$2.83 €2.48

$2.37 GGP 1.76

19.41%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 €2.01

$2.78 GGP 2.07

-17.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 €1.38

$1.97 GGP 1.47

-19.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.40 €2.98

$3.69 GGP 2.74

-7.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 €3.53

$3.74 GGP 2.78

7.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 €0.96

$2.69 GGP 2.00

-59.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.75 €1.53

$2.71 GGP 2.02

-35.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 €1.54

$3.71 GGP 2.76

-52.56%

Eggs

$3.17 €2.77

$5.09 GGP 3.78

-37.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.19 €11.56

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.97 €6.98

$8.40 GGP 6.25

-5.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.53 €13.60

$7.93 GGP 5.90

95.84%

Apples (1kg)

$2.37 €2.07

$3.09 GGP 2.30

-23.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 €1.49

$4.62 GGP 3.44

-62.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.01 €1.76

$3.89 GGP 2.90

-48.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.43 €2.13

$5.42 GGP 4.04

-55.17%

Potato (1kg)

$1.76 €1.54

$3.08 GGP 2.29

-42.86%

Onion (1kg)

$2.03 €1.78

$3.16 GGP 2.35

-35.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.92 €1.68

$2.25 GGP 1.67

-14.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 €0.74

$1.52 GGP 1.13

-44.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.58 €5.76

$10.24 GGP 7.62

-35.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.58 €4.89

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 €1.17

$1.88 GGP 1.40

-29.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 €2.60

$2.04 GGP 1.52

45.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.28 €1.99

$2.00 GGP 1.49

14.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.79 €40.10

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.23 €3.70

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 €0.71

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.44 €16.15

$13.68 GGP 10.18

34.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.08 €1.82

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$34.7K €30.4K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$39.2K €34.3K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$148 €130

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$20.46 €17.92

$22.14 GGP 16.47

-7.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.56 €34.64

$93.2 GGP 69.3

-57.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.99 €42.03

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.60 €16.29

Cinema Ticket

$9.22 €8.08

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$616 €540

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.4K €14.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$103 €90.0

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.74 €36.55

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.8 €83.0

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 €107

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,633 €1,430

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,232 €1,079

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,098 €2,713

$2,066 GGP 1,537

49.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,031 €1,779

$1,666 GGP 1,240

21.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,831 €6,858

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,389 €3,844

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,607 €1,408

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.81

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026

Last update for Sark: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $82.0 in Sark for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $297 per month, with Lisbon cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Lisbon vs Sark: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lisbon and Sark differ by about 250% in total monthly costs ($2,291 vs $654 including rent). Sark is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $3,437 in Lisbon and $981 in Sark to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Dining out is cheaper in Sark – a meal for two runs $82.0 versus $63.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,291 per month in Lisbon versus $654 in Sark – a 250% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $654 in Sark versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Sark but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Sark the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Lisbon and Sark are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Sark gentler on the wallet – expenses run 250% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.